Cetme's

This is a discussion on Cetme's within the General Firearm Discussion forums, part of the Related Topics category; Anybody have one? How do you like it? The reason I ask is because they seem to have only increased a little since the gun ...

I have a PTR-91 - great rifle. I think the CETME is a poorer quality version. There's some boring history behind it.

Austin

^This is what I have read as well^^^^^^^

Not that you couldn't get a good one, its just that the likelyhood is there you will have some troubles, compared to a PTR, or ideally a FAL.
A friend of mine has an original HK from the '80's he will never part with.

I would rather die with good men than hide with cowardsIf you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.
Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it whether it exists or not, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedy."

I have owned one for years with HK internals and have no issues with them at all. Mags are dirt cheap $5.00 and generally accuracy is on par with other 7.62 battle rifles. You can mount an optic via a claw mount which works well. They are not picky on ammo but if you reload they sling the brass 30 feet or more by design.

"A first rate man with a third rate gun is far better than the other way around". The gun is a tool, you are the craftsman that makes it work. There are those who say "if I had to do it, I could" yet they never go out and train to do it. Don't let stupid be your mindset. Harryball 2013

OK guys. I have been really interested in one or the other. Can you all dish out some more facts?

What about mags? How is the trigger? Can they accept an optic? Groups? And I'd like some of the history too please.

What one or the other? A PTR-91 or a CETME? or a PTR-91 or an FAL?

G3/PTR-91 mags are/were dirt cheap. <$5 a piece brand new, seen them for $1 each used in good condition. Older guys could probably tell you stories about butterfly nets and cases of them - I wasn't around for that. They insert straight up like an AR. Releases vary depending on the model - some are a button like an AR, and some are a lever like M1A/AK type. The PTR-91s have very nice barrels and MOA is not uncommon with proper ammo selection. The trigger is nothing special, but not terrible. Lots of different types of mounts available - I haven't put one on mine yet, but I plan on getting one from hkparts.net when I do. They are a roller delayed blowback action. The G3 was the select fire rifle chosen by Germany when NATO standardized on the 7.62mm. The U.S. chose the M14, and everyone else chose the FAL. The H&K civilian version was the HK-91 - which can't be imported anymore, and are $3k+ these days. PTR bought the tooling from H&K, and they use better barrels. They are solid rifles.

Don't know much about the CETME - google does though! I read it a while back, then brain dumped it. The summary I have retained is: I don't want one, and won't buy one. They are similar in function and appearance to the G3/HK-91/PTR-91, but they are Spanish in origin and not as strong/reliable/good/etc..

FALs are superior. The best! Mags are/were about $20. They rock into place like an M1A/AK mag. Mag release similar to M1A/AK but better. Left side charging handle, right side ejection. Best ergonomics, least recoil. An absolute joy to own and shoot. Not as accurate (by reputation) as the PTR-91s - I haven't done any accuracy testing with either my FAL or my PTR-91, but I have no problem hitting 2 liter bottles at ~200 yards. It's a hoot. My trigger is probably 6 pounds - it's fine. It's better than a normal AR trigger, but it's no bolt action either. The FAL top cover where an optic is typically mounted - there are a variety of mounts available through DSA, A.R.M.S., and LTR. I'm deciding between an Aimpoint T-1 and a Trijicon 1-4 for mine. It's really nice with irons as is though. I put an Israeli handguard on mine. It's the "Right Arm of the Free World".

I don't know why but I've always wanted a CETME. If someone around here had one at a good price I'd jump at it. But, I've never wanted one badly enough to go out of my way to get one. I'd need professional psychological help to understand myself sometimes.

Looks like the SAR 8 and PTR-91 are almost triple the price of a CETME. I read some reviews on CETME's and most seem to require some "tuning" which usually involve replacing a ground bolt and other headspacing issues. Still $600 compared to $1500 - $2000 seams like a good value.

Looks like the SAR 8 and PTR-91 are almost triple the price of a CETME. I read some reviews on CETME's and most seem to require some "tuning" which usually involve replacing a ground bolt and other headspacing issues. Still $600 compared to $1500 - $2000 seams like a good value.

Ernie, CDNN had PTR-91 rifles for sale the week before Sandy Hook for $940 (IIRC). The still have them listed at $1200. I'm quite sure CETMEs have gone up too.

I've had Cetme & HK-91 variants before I bought & shot my first FN FAL. I no longer have any of the first, I now have three of the last. There are multi-MILLIONS of FAL rifles still cached around the world. There are warehouses full of NIB mags. IMHO, they are the Toyota HiLux of the available battle rifles.

Buying an "assault rifle" just to make sure you have one? It's a jump ball. Buying a full-size battle rifle for the unforeseen future? it's an FAL for me.

I would rather die with good men than hide with cowardsIf you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.
Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it whether it exists or not, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedy."